Your Queer stories podcast. Hosted by Tessa Lloyd.
Your Queer stories podcast. Hosted by Tessa Lloyd.
Hi everyone, welcome to final episode of Season 3 (Season 4 coming next) of Less Surface Level. During this episode we revisit the journey of opening, running, and eventually letting go of Beans Bar; a queer, neurodivergent-led community venue that became so much more than a bar.
We sit down with Beca Pressing, the brilliant woman who created Beans, reflecting on what it was like to open it with hope and vision, how the reality unfolded in unexpected ways. Most importantly, we explore the emotional labour of running this space while navigating mental health, burnout and expectations of others.
If you’ve ever built something that mattered to others, and had to reckon with what it cost you; this one’s for you. I hope you've enjoyed Season 3 of Less Surface Level, see you next episode for Season 4! x
For this fortnight’s episode I’m sitting down with Kirby Bentley, a proud Noongar woman whose influence stretches from sport to TV, advocacy, business, and culture.
This conversation goes to heartfelt places that Kirby doesn’t always go to, including her experiences loving women, and the healing lessons Kirby’s gathered across her journey.
Kirby grew up on Noongar Country in Mt Barker, WA, before a career in professional netball, AFLW with Fremantle and Carlton, and elite-level coaching. She’s the force behind the Kirby Bentley Cup, opening doors for young Aboriginal women in sport, and the founder of Djookian, a queer, female-led renewable energy company rooted in Sisterhood and community.
She’s also an ambassador for Djirra, supporting First Nations women impacted by family violence, and for Fred’s Big Run, raising awareness for culturally safe healthcare and preventing vision loss in First Nations communities (yup, she’s amazing). As a proud queer woman, Kirby’s visibility has helped create safer, more inclusive spaces, whether in sport, on TV in Survivor, in business, or in community.
I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording this episode.
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we sit down with India King and Kristina Krithararis, partners in life, love, and the queer-affirming creative business Scizza. Together, they share the behind-the-scenes story of how they built a space that centres safety, expression, and community for LGBTQIA+ people.
We explore their individual journeys, from early signs of queerness and creativity to the jobs that taught them what kind of environments they didn’t want to be part of. India and Kristina open up about their coming out stories, how they met, and the moment they realised they could build something meaningful together.
This episode is a love letter to queer creativity, partnership, and the kind of space that helps people feel truly seen.
SHOW LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/scizza_/?hl=en
In this episode we're joined by Julie, the founder of Sundaylicious Melbourne, a queer women-led event that’s become a cornerstone of community, connection, and celebration in Naarm. We dive into the origins of Sundaylicious, the gaps it set out to fill, and the personal journey that shaped it. Julie shares the emotional labour, unexpected challenges, and deep moments of pride that have come with building a space where queer women and gender-diverse people feel seen and safe. Together, we explore what it means to hold space for joy, how identity evolves alongside community, and the legacy of creating something that matters.
In episode I sit down with one of my close friends, Chloe. She's moved through a lot of life with grit, softness, and a whole lot of growth. We go beneath the surface to revisit the early imprints that still live in her body, the quiet rebellions that shaped her spirit, and the ways she has created safety for herself. Chloe opens up about the joy of being a lesbian, how it’s stretched and softened her understanding of love, and how it continues to add depth to her life in unexpected ways. We talk about what it means to feel home in your body, and how our friendships become places of real intimacy and healing. From past selves we’ve outgrown to the versions we’re still becoming, this episode is a love letter to resilience, women loving women, and the power of being truly seen by someone who gets it.
In June 2025, queer pop artist Fletcher released her new single “Boy”, a vulnerable ballad about unexpectedly falling for a man. The release, timed during Pride Month, sparked intense debate across the LGBTQIA+ community. Embraced as a WLW icon, Fletcher’s pivot raised complex questions around identity, visibility, and what it means to be “queer enough.” Critics voiced feelings of betrayal and concerns about bi/pan erasure, while others defended Fletcher’s fluidity and right to love without labels.
This episode with Holly Pink and Chloe Rebello, unpacks the emotional, social, and political backlash, looking deeper at how identity policing, internalised biphobia, and the weight of representation collide in today’s queer landscape. We’ll explore why this moment hit so hard, what it reveals about our community’s growing pains, and how we can move forward with more compassion, more nuance, and more room for the full spectrum of queer love.
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we sit down with a queer-affirming acupuncturist to explore the powerful intersection of identity, healing, and holistic health. From his personal journey into queerness to professional commitment to inclusive care, this conversation invites us to rethink what it means to feel safe and seen in our bodies; especially in a world that often doesn’t make space for queer wellness. We unpack how acupuncture can support the nervous system, soothe dysphoria, and address the emotional and physical burdens of marginalisation. Our guest reflects on what it truly means to offer “queer-affirming” care and shares powerful moments where their identity became a bridge for trust, healing, and connection. We also touch on the limitations of Western medicine, the importance of integrating spiritual and emotional practices, and what it takes to shift the health system to better serve queer communities. Whether you’re a practitioner, a patient, or simply curious about alternative healing, this episode is a warm, insightful reminder of the body’s capacity to heal; and how deeply identity can shape that journey.
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we explore a relationship that challenges expectations and expands our understanding of identity and connection.
What happens when a straight man falls in love with a queer woman, someone whose history includes dating women, and whose queerness doesn’t vanish just because she’s now with him?
Through honest reflections and real conversation, we unpack what it means to show up for a partner whose experience of love is layered, nuanced, and not always easy to define.
This is not your "typical" love story, and that’s what makes it powerful. Whether you’ve navigated similar dynamics or are simply curious about the ways love can stretch across identity lines, this episode is a tender, thoughtful look at how we grow, learn, and honour each other beyond the binary.
Tune in for quiet moments, open-hearted dialogue, and a celebration of connection that goes beyond the surface.
In this episode of Less Surface Level, we sit with Holly Pink and explore the layered and often nonlinear journey of queer identity and self-discovery. From the joy and chaos of coming out, to the quiet battles with internalised homophobia, and shifting labels, we open up about what it really means to find pride in who you are. We also talk mental health in the queer community, the role of chosen family, and how intimacy, desire, and love evolve as we better understand ourselves. This one’s a heartfelt mix of vulnerability, reflection, and celebration; a reminder that you’re not alone in the mess or the magic.
Amy came out as a lesbian in her early twenties, an identity that felt like finally stepping into the light after years of trying to be someone she wasn’t. Owning her queerness gave her a sense of wholeness and community. She fell in love with a woman for the first time and finally felt like her life aligned with her truth.
But everything shifted when her partner began transitioning to live as a man. What followed was a quiet storm of questions: Am I still a lesbian? What does this mean for how I see myself? Can I honour my partner's transition without abandoning my own identity?
In this episode, Amy reflects on the nuanced, tender, and sometimes disorienting experience of loving someone through gender transition, while trying to stay connected to her own evolving truth.
This podcast is a raw and thoughtful exploration of identity, queerness, grief, growth, and the complexity of loving in a changing world. For anyone who’s ever asked, What does this make me now? - this space is for you.
In this conversation, Julia Gueller reflects on the emotional complexity of navigating a long-term relationship with a man while discovering romantic and sexual feelings for a woman. After being in a 12-year relationship, raising three children, and facing personal and family challenges, Julia found herself attracted to a woman they met regularly at a market. The relationship grew over time, but Julia took some time to acknowledge her romantic feelings.
Despite recognising the disconnect in her relationship with her male partner, Julia found it difficult to admit that the relationship was no longer working. After an intimate moment with the woman, the speaker’s feelings intensified, leading to a conversation with her partner where they openly admitted their attraction to her. Although the partner initially seemed open to discussing the possibility of an open relationship, it became clear he was not ready for such a change, which opened up further conversations for them.
I hope this episode brings clarity and hope to those navigating the confusion and judgment from friends, leading them to turn inward for reflection and decide whether to explore their sexuality or remain committed to their long-term relationship. Enjoy my loves.
T. x
Hello honeys. Today, Sianan reflects on her experience of exploring her sexuality during her school years, particularly through a close relationship with a female friend that, in hindsight, they recognise as their first love. Although they didn’t label it as such at the time, they shared intimate moments that went beyond friendship, and losing this friend—especially when they found out she was secretly involved with the speaker's boyfriend—was devastating.
Sianan acknowledges that their feelings were confusing, especially since societal and school norms around queerness were negative, leading them to downplay or ignore their deeper emotions. They describe how such explorations were often dismissed as “just fun” in youth, masking the real significance of these relationships. The conversation touches on how many people may relate to the blurred lines between friendship and love in same-sex relationships, especially when there are no examples or role models of queer relationships to reference.
We both take some time to reflect on the bravery in young people exploring their feelings without labels, despite the stigma and negative rhetoric around queerness in their adolescence. I hope you enjoy this one my loves. T x
Ariela, an Artist and Psychotherapist shares her personal journey of self-discovery as a Queer woman living in Melbourne. Ariela speaks about her identity as a Lesbian and her experience with eating disorders, emphasising the importance of who you surround yourself with, and what has contributed to her personal growth.
Hello honeys and welcome back to the pod. In this Pride episode with Sammy Foster, we explore the significance of authenticity and self-acceptance as queer women, including the sharing of stories of our own personal growth. Tune in to hear about the highlights as well as the challenges of coming out at different stages of life. All my love, T x
Hey beautiful people.
Please join me in welcoming Brent Allan to the podcast. Brent is a queer, neurodivergent, non-binary person who currently occupies several senior advisor positions focusing on sexual health and wellbeing programmes and policy development for global and domestic agencies and industry partners. They have been working in the community response to HIV and AIDS for over 30 years across various countries and have qualifications in health education, business and community services management. They also have public and social health experience with local, state and federal governments and global industries.
Brent identifies as a non-binary person who has been living with HIV for over 25 years. They have been active in efforts to build the capacity of people living with HIV through advocacy, education and representation. They regularly provide technical assistance to global networks, governments, civil society and industry on matters of best practice in community-based services, research and development.
Brent is a passionate advocate for civil society and consumer representation in health service policy, programming and evaluation. They have been a vocal advocate and champion for the rights of sex workers, people who use drugs and vulnerable and marginalised people working on the frontlines with gender and sexually diverse communities.
Today I chat to Brent about some amazing topics, including this article:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7zw9v/what-ive-learned-since-getting-a-glory-hole-in-my-home
written by a dear friend of Brent. Have a read to know what we're referring to in the podcast.
Thank you for being here,
T x
Today we're chatting with Sandon Gibbs O'Neill, a First Nations artist who shares stories and healing through art. His business, Burruguu Art, found on Instagram as @burruguu_art, has allowed him to share parts of himself and his culture that words could not express. We talk about family, separation, culture, and healing through art. Enjoy x
My girl Jules is back on the podcast, sharing with us what she is leaving behind, and asking more of in 2024.
Today I chat with one of my favourite humans, Christine (Coco) Chamoun. We're talking about our experience of and challenges with body image issues including body dysmorphia, negative self talk and eating disordered behaviours. We discuss what has helped and hindered our journey, and how we continue to work on this. A trigger warning is given for this episode, as we discuss topics surrounding mental health and eating disorders.
Lunar Label touched the hearts of many, as does the creator and heart behind Lunar, Jordie Myers. Today we talk to Jordie about the closing down of Lunar Label, and the lessons that she learnt along the way.
My loves, welcome back to the podcast. Thank you for your patience as I went through 1000 changes and transitions that shook up my life and my business in the best way. I've landed in a place with space for creativity and conversation again, and my conversations with you on Surface Level.
Please welcome Natasha Fabrizi back to the for our second conversation about identity, growth, nostalgia, self doubt, and painful change.